LAWRENCE CO. – The Lawrence County Superior Court I, Judge John Plummer III, his team, and many others, including members of local government and family, gathered for the graduation of Nathan Anderson, William Babbs, and Dustin Cox from the Lawrence County Superior Court I Problem Solving Court yesterday.
In a day and age when bad news is so prevalent, it’s a blessing to hear of lives changing for the better, and that’s what the purpose of this ceremony was.
This accomplishment follows their dedication to changing their lives for the better. These men have taken responsibility for their behavior, established employment, assumed family responsibilities, actively participated in recovery programs, and completed Cognitive Behaviors Programs.
The program itself takes referred individuals from the courts for domestic violence, and instead of putting them in prison or through probation, rehabilitates and stops the repetitive cycle of offense, arrest, probation, release, and then repeated offense.
They also display an attitude that makes them good role models for other participants in the program and citizens of the community.
Judge Plummer introduced the graduates, explaining their individual accomplishments and the timeline of their turn-around, as well as personal notes that differentiated their journeys.
Joe Diver, a program team member was instrumental in the program and proved to be one of the most important people in it for the men. He was their supporter and was always there for them.
Nathan Anderson was in the program for 722 days, beginning October 4, 2021, to September 2023.
“I’ve been through these doors more than I care to count,” Nathan said, “as a kid and into adulthood, I couldn’t seem to properly cope with trauma and emotion.” Nathan struggled through school, eventually falling in with the wrong crowd and learning to cope with drugs and alcohol. It was where he felt accepted.
He said his lifestyle led to anger, rage, and violence. He almost gave up on being better, not knowing how. And then, with the help of the program, he met Joe Diver.
Today, Nathan is happy, and he has learned to rationally manage his emotions through situations and has honed his problem-solving skills.
William Babbs was in the program for 848 days, from May 31, 2021, to September 26, 2023.
William before the program was an addict, and he moved around as needed to support his habit, caring for himself alone and being controlling of others. He believes that being arrested was the best thing that happened to him because it led him to turn his life around via the program.
William first went to rehab, where he gained sobriety and learned how to keep it. Then he came home and entered the program. Through it, he learned to control his anger and remove violence from his life.
Dustin Cox was in the program for 860 days, from May 14, 2021, to September 26, 2023.
In Dustin’s case, he grew up in a home with a wonderful father, but a mother who was abusive to his father as well as her kids. He swore he would never become like her, but through unfortunate events, found himself in her footsteps. But after going so long without healthy connections, and habits, he was about to give up. He wanted to be different, and wanted to be better, but didn’t know where to start.
The program helped him find that place, and he has improved by leaps and bounds, taking charge of his life, improving his ethics, and education, and mending those relationships damaged by his previous behavior.
The program is successful, and one of the only ways the County can change the plague of domestic violence and habit-forming behaviors.
Nathan Anderson explained “From my personal experience, prison offered more violence, more drugs, and more toxic behaviors. Inside prison walls, there is little option or hope for change. Then we’re released to the streets and expected to have it all figured out.”
It’s better in general, but especially in the long run if we can help them become better citizens, mothers, fathers, and friends instead of repeating the cycle and expecting them to know how to do it themselves.
Lawrence County is the only problem-solving court in the State of Indiana for those charged with domestic violence. The court was started several years ago by Judge Michael Robbins.
There is talk of the Problem Solving Court and domestic violence program being shut down.
The community needs to weigh in on the subject to make sure that our society’s hope for true, lasting change remains intact to help progress our community in the right direction as a whole.
